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The Colonial Theatre Presents A Leahy Family Christmas08:51AM / Thursday, December 04, 2008
PITTSFIELD, Mass. – The Colonial Theatre will present A Leahy Family Christmas on December 20th at 8PM. Tickets for the performance range from $25-$45 and can be purchased in person at the Colonial Ticket Office at 111 South Street Monday-Friday 10-5, Saturday 10-2, by calling (413) 997-4444 or 24/7 online at www.TheColonialTheatre.org.
Leahy returns to the Colonial’s stage to perform a holiday concert filled with favorite Celtic medleys and traditional Christmas carols. A Canadian powerhouse of eight musical brothers and sisters, this family of instrumentalists, singers and dancers brings a rare level of originality and musicianship to the stage. Leahy’s most recent American tour included a sold-out stop at the Colonial, which remains the Colonial’s most requested return performance.
The band's four acclaimed CDs - Leahy, Lakefield, In All Things, and Leahy Live - have world-wide sales of over half-a-million copies. They opened up for Shania Twain on her first World Tour and were the subject of an Academy Award winning documentary on the life and music of their family. Their countless awards and accolades span many musical genres, from traditional roots, folk, and country to pop, jazz, and classical.
A Christmas show with Leahy is yet another multifaceted experience that takes audiences on a sensory and emotional ride with their music, dance and song. Through the magic of technology, they will share the stage with their parents and other people from their past. If that wasn’t enough, they’re adding more Leahys to the line-up by having the children of various members join them on stage to sing, play, and dance—just as they would if they were at a Leahy family gathering back home in Lakefield, Ontario.
Leahy’s performance will be interspersed with Christmas stories that make you feel as though you are one of the characters yourself. From sacred hymns and slow airs to a smorgasbord of fiery tunes and Christmas carols, they’ll travel the spectrum when it comes to the intensity with which they play.
The Leahys have always been known for the way in which they fuse musical styles and genres. The ease with which they do this becomes even clearer in their Christmas show with the way they employ symphonic arrangements with their violins, world rhythms with their dance, and haunting choral harmonies with their voices. How they’re able to move from one genre to another is shocking at first, then understandable when you remember that they grew up in a household where music was everywhere. Music wasn’t defined by words or categories, but rather its ability to touch and move one’s soul. Leahy continues to share this attitude whenever they perform. They play for the joy of making music and the purpose of giving something more than sound to the listener—an experience and long lasting awakening.
“Music has always been a huge part of our Christmas experience. As children, if it wasn’t for all of the lights and decorations everywhere, we knew it was Christmas because there was a musical gathering every night of the week. Our house would be alive with people, music, dance and song! Children and adults alike all joined in and participated in the festivities. This is one aspect of our Christmas show that we’re looking forward to the most, bringing the audience in on all of action taking place on stage. That may be where the music starts, but it won’t be where it ends. You can’t attend a Christmas gathering and not be expected to join in on all of the fun!”
As much as Leahy still carries on these traditions today, the sacred importance of this time of year is what is first and foremost in their house. To that end, Leahy’s repertoire of sacred hymns and Christmas carols runs deep as it comes from many years of singing in the Choir at Mass. In fact, it was in the church Choir that the Leahys learned how to sing and harmonize. “It is such an important part of our Christmas experience that to this day, we still sing in the choir and at Mass on Christmas Eve.” These sacred hymns and choral arrangements are sure to be a highlight of their Christmas show.
Watching a Leahy performance is always an extra-ordinary experience. You can’t help but feel transported into another time and space—be it their living room back in Lakefield on a snowy December night, or one of many Cathedrals around the world on Christmas Eve. A Leahy Family Christmas will make you feel like you’ve been taken on one of the most exhilarating Christmas adventures of your life. And to think, all in one show, on one night and from one family. |
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